I’m striving for a humble heart. From reading God’s word, I’ve learned that I do not have to be “passive” in order to be humble, but rather that a humble heart is born out of an understanding that who I am and what I do does not reflect my deeds and intellect, but instead reflects God. I’ve also learned that God created me unique, with great flaws and strengths and desires; but I can always gain insight from the strengths and desires of the people around me. It is an understanding that everything I have is from Him, and that it is my sworn duty to do what I can to exercise my talents and leverage my influence for His glory.
In my human attempts to grow a humble heart, I’ve come to realize that it is not a skill to be learned and then mastered, but rather an outgrowth of Christ which comes only from intimately knowing Him and the desires of His heart for me. By following Christ and examining His life, the blossoms in the garden of His heart will grow in the nascent and weedy garden of mine.
I’ve been greatly humbled in my three months working at LifeChurch.tv, where the humility is palpable and inspiring. I’ve been continually blown away by what I recognize to be genuinely humble-hearted individuals from whom I have a mountain of insights to learn. Being here both refreshes and challenges me in my quest and deep desire to honor God with my whole heart.
I’ve been reflecting on two illuminating testaments to how a humble heart manifests itself in the wild and not just in theory. One from a modern book and another from an ancient one:
“Every man I meet is my superior in some way. Of this, I learn of him.”
– How to Win Friends and Influence People (author Dale Carnegie quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this in mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
– Philippians 2:3-7